CrommelinJournaal. Mieux vaut quitter patrie que foi

CrommelinJournaal Mieux vaut quitter patrie que foi

CrommelinJournaal || Voorjaar 2014


From the entering chairman Apparently, the new chairman has to write an article in the Journal. I knew that, of course, but since my presence in this issue will pretty much be everywhere, it’s kind of hard what to write about. A lot of information will be made available through the interview with me, written by Gulian Crommelin, to be found elsewhere in this Crommelin Journal issue. I was involved in the Crommelin foundations activities for the first time with the Crommelin gathering in the Oude Kerk (“Old church”) in Amsterdam, where I met some Australian Crommelins. Various reunions later, Robert Crommelin found out I (sometimes…) played golf. He invited me to join the family on the yearly “Crommelin Open (Golf Tournament)”, which I did. Next, he asked me to organize the next one. Then, he asked me to become his successor as chairman. As it turns out, a career within the Crommelin foundation organization can take off really quickly... I thought about Roberts offer for some time, but decided rapidly on joining the committee. I like what the foundation does, and want to help on it. I just made one remark: Robert told me he did this for 10 years, and I’m not sure if I should consider that to be the length of the standard term… But for now, I’m here and I received a warm welcome from the rest of the board, and looking forward to the oncoming period. I like to thank my predecessor Robert Crommelin, for 10 years of service as the chairman of the Crommelin foundation. I hope that myself, the rest of the board (Dies, May en Walter), the editorial staff of the Journal (Loukie, Amber, Jeroen, Nina and Walter) as well as the countless other people that help in various ways are able to carry both the Crommelin family and the foundation well into the future! Regards, and hope to see you soon,

Michiel Crommelin Chairman Crommelin Foundation


Preface / Voorwoord From a snowy Groningen, where we gathered as editorial staff, we wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2014!

Vanuit een besneeuwd Groningen, waar wij als redactie bij elkaar zijn, wensen wij u allen een heel gelukkig en voorspoedig 2014 toe!

This is the first edition of the journal under chairmanship of Michiel Crommelin. Elsewhere in this journal you find an article written by the leaving chairman, Robert Crommelin, as well as an interview with the new chairman. Transfer of the chairmanship took place after the reunion in ‘t Flierse. If you have any pictures of the reunion that you wish to share with the rest of the family, please send these to the email address of the editorial staff: [email protected].

Dit is de eerste editie van het journaal onder voorzitterschap van Michiel Crommelin. Elders in dit journaal treft u een bericht aan van de scheidend voorzitter, Robert Crommelin, alsmede een interview met de nieuwe voorzitter. De overdracht van het voorzitterschap vond plaats tijdens de reunie in ’t Flierse. Heeft u foto’s genomen tijdens de reunie die u wilt delen met de familie, dan kunt u deze naar het e-mailadres van de redactie sturen: [email protected].

If you feel compelled by what you see and read in this issue, and you wish to write anything about the family yourself, we sincerely appreciate your contribution very much! You can send this to [email protected] as well.

Mocht u aangestoken worden door wat u hier ziet en leest, en wilt u zelf ook graag eens een familieverhaal aanleveren, dan is uw bijdrage zeer welkom! Deze kunt u sturen naar [email protected].

What can you expect in this issue: among others the first part of a series about Jaap and Laurine (van Nieukerken), written by their son Gulian. Also there is a report about the family reunion in rural estate ‘t Flierse, and the regular features as “Family affairs”, “Website spotlights” and “Crommelin in business”. The last one has an interview with Amber, who just launched a new shopping concept in Groningen.

Wat kunt u zoal verwachten in deze uitgave: onder andere het eerste deel van een serie over Jaap en Laurine (van Nieukerken), geschreven door hun zoon Gulian. Daarnaast een verslag van de familie-reunie in ’t Flierse, een ook de vaste rubrieken als ‘familieberichten’, ‘website-spotlights’ en ‘Crommelin in Bedrijf’, waarin een interview met Amber die een nieuw winkel concept gelanceerd heeft in Groningen. Kortom, een gevarieerd beeld van familie in beweging!

In short: a varied image of a family on the move! Warm regards,

De redactie

Editorial staff

Colofon

Crommelin Journal

[email protected]

Hoofdredactie Michiel Crommelin Eindredactie: Loukie Crommelin

Ontwerp en design Amber Crommelin Jeroen Oosterwijk Overige medewerkers Nina Crommelin Walter Crommelin


Changing Chairmen Robert Crommelin

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Family Reunion 2013 report

Mariad Crommelin

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Interview Chairman Michiel Crommelin

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Tales by Jaap Gulian Crommelin

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Chapter 1: Why did Jaap and Laurine Crommelin-van Nieuwkerken go to Indie

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Chapter 2: Pa and Ma during World War 2

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Crommelaria

Board of the Crommelin Foundation 10

Crommelin in Business

Nina Crommelin-Overdick

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Website Spotlights

Miff Crommelin & Govert Deketh

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Long Ago and Far Away

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A Christmas Carol

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A Visit In A Dutch Country House

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J.H. Scheffer - Crommelin Genealogy Archive

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Erfstukken Vertellen Désirée Crommelin

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Het Spoor Terug

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En Famille

Lamberthe de J., Désirée Cr. & Mariad Cr.

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Changing chairmen So long, Robert, welcome Michiel!

It’s been ten years already! I enjoyed it a great deal, being part of the board of our Family Foundation – in a period where we could build on what was born at the remarkable ‘clan meeting’ in the old church in Amsterdam in 1997. Cousin Robert was heading the ‘family conversation’, that brought about the idea of a Family Foundation, that was given ‘hands and feet’ quickly after under the good guidance of Gulian, Annemarie, Liesbeth and Henk, Bernard, with the steady support from abroad by Miff and Govert, steering our Flagship www.crommelin.nl ! We went beyond what was until then – working group for the next ‘patriciaat edition’ or organizing committee for the family reunion and moved on to the Foundation form. Headed by Annemarie the Amsterdam Crommelin Archives were founded within the Amsterdam City Archives, where we enjoyed a warm welcome from our hosts at the start. The Journal was born - a special moment, that was made possible through the efforts of many: Liesbeth and Henk, Amber, Jeroen, Desiree and Loukie! They managed while leading busy lives to develop step by step with each issue a real and attractive family forum for anyone who wants to share and embody our notion of ‘family’

in words or images! It continues to grow in form and the circle of people it is sent to! We did ‘put on the rails’ our ambition to internationalize – for instance have a look and join at our Facebook family page, but we did temper our expectations a bit: internationalization of a family network appears to be a slow train coming in a time of many social media alternatives and in the absence of a compelling ‘raison d’ètre’. A great and memorable moment was the donation by Sophie and Ineke of the spectacular Chinese dinner service especially decorated for our ancestors who ordered it (‘Chine de Commande’). Hans gave a lot of energy and good care to ensure an elegant and silent transition of this wonderful heritage! His daughter Dies will take up the question of how to own such treasure! And who ever in our family knows its history: write about it: that’s ‘patine’ on the plates! In our own country we as a family have come to enjoy a set of yearly activities, like the family hike, the Crommelin Golf Match, the family lunch for seasoned members only and our family reunion, like we enjoyed last autumn at the beautiful premise of ‘t Flierse’, where Trix’ sister Ineke de Jonge was so kind to let us be her guests! It was a joy to be part of the board of our Foundation and get to know and work together with people who I got to know well and appreciate a lot for the energy they gave to the coming of age of our Foundation. I have experienced how little initiatives can prosper and just grow by themselves and have been fortunate to get to know many family members that have become dear to me, thanks! Robert Crommelin

Family Golf, Naarden 2011 I am happy to welcome Michiel as our new President: I’ve come to know him as an enjoyable, practical and loyal ‘pal’, with whom you feel a natural connection – that can only go in the right direction! And finally: many thanks to many family members whom we have asked for something, be it writings, assistance, participation, donation, initiative or just positive intention: thanks a lot! Robert


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Family reunion report ’t Flierse estate - september 2013

On the 15th of September 2013 our family Crommelin reunion took place at ”’t Flierse” estate in Eefde, 10 miles south of the city of Deventer in the eastern part of The Netherlands. ”t Flierse” was built in 1942 and named originally as “De Martinshof” by the family Fürstner, a renowned goldsmith specializing in wedding rings then. The heavy safe with twist locks is still a keepsake of that period. The goldsmith jewellery business moved in the 70’s and still exists in Twello, a neighbouring village across the IJssel River. “’t Flierse” estate changed ownership several times till it was bought in the ‘90’s by Ineke de Jong-de Jonge, sister of Trix, who married my eldest brother Gulian Crommelin. Ineke expanded the estate from 27 to 44 acres in 1997. The estate now falls under the scenery legislation (NSW-arrangement). A trivial fact is that the notarial deed talks about a hidden “treasure”, which was possibly a money- or gold chest that may have fallen out of a military pay cart of the Napoleontic army crossing The Netherlands at the start of the nineteenth century. It may lay buried in the “Flier” = “Vledder”= “peat”. If the owner of the estate finds the “treasure” he is obligated to share half of the money with the pre-owner who then is obligated to share his half with … etc. Would it be attractive for the Crommelins? It seems to me a very tempting idea. Anyway, it was a subject to humorous and speculative fantasies and a challenge for the kids for an exciting treasure hunt through the woods and fields around the pond of “’t Flierse”.

reunion team and their preparations started off.

Preparational phase

On the 15-th of September at 12:00 AM, 35 adult and 9 youthful Crommelin family members and relatives came together on the spacious terrace in the beautiful garden of “’t Flierse”. Cake and beverages supported the joy of this meeting together with some autumn sun. The chairman Robert Cr. opened the reunion with a short welcome to all of us and especially to the oldest participant Aunt Totie Deketh-Cr. (born in 1916) accompanied by her daughter Olowine, also from Amsterdam. Robert thanked the reunion team for their efforts with flowers and he wished everybody a beautiful day. He also spent a few words about the activities that the Cr. foundation had made and some pipeline developments, obligations and plans for the near future, e.g. the Cr. golf tournament, annual senior meetings, family walking plans and kids programmes, ending up with some administrative matters.

In a number of preparatory sessions, starting spring 2013, between Ineke, Feike Douma, Trix, Gulian with the board of the Crommelin Foundation, Ineke felt happy to invite us on her estate to hold the family reunion 2013. However, the original date was shifted unexpectedly by the board, and due to that incident a few enthusiastic (foreigner) family members could not attend the autumn meeting. In an end-of-august meeting between Ineke, Feike with the Crommelin Foundation chairman Robert Crommelin (from Naarden) and the family reunion 2013 committee, Nina and her husband Walter Cr. (Groningen), Adriana Cr., spouse of Reinhard Cr. (Deventer) in the presence of Gulian and Trix Cr. (Gorssel), Michiel Cr. and his Ellen, a new date and program were planned. Full of confidence and spirit Ineke passed her keys into the hands of Nina and her

Robert Crommelin (Naarden) en Nina Crommelin-Overdick (Groningen).

Crommelin family day 2013


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After the fabulous lunch four groups were formed and four topics/activities were exposed: 1. The antique Crommelin “Chine de commande” porcelain: problems and potential uses of it; Hans and Sophie Donker-Cr. (Deventer) led the issue.

Her home, garden and forest were in a perfect condition at her return. And of course, obligated as part of the deed, Ineke received her share of the treasure: a Rot-Käpchen wine, Glen Tallogh whisky and a beautiful flower bouquet. Ineke told me also that the Cr. reunion may well be held again at her “’t Flierse”.

2. Genealogy: the Crommelin pedigree, e.g. update, male and female members and complementary research under the leadership of Bernard van Wickevoort -Cr. (Greifswald, Germany, in an effort to generate ideas for study topics and eventual reporting in the Crommelin Journal. 3. All together participating in creating a painting of the Crommelins attending the Cr.-reunion 2013 on a large canvas placed on an easel at the terrace under a huge painters sunshade. 4. A treasure quest through the garden and forest (designed by Gulian and Trix Cr. before their departure abroad) under the supervision of Nina and Walter Cr. It was the favourite of the day. Not only our youthful members but also the not so youthful Crommelins were victim of the “gold fever”. The treasure was eventually located and excavated! Personally, I enjoyed attending the interesting genealogy session with Walter Cr. (Haarlem) and Bernard vW.Cr. (Greifswald). The Crommelin family day 2013 ended around 04:00 PM and everybody went home, amused and grateful, I feel.

Hans Donker (Deventer), May CrommelinHuyssen van Kattendijke (Laren (Gld)), Totie Deketh-Crommelin (Amsterdam) en Claudine Broekhuysen-Crommelin (Bussum).

Afterwards, I drove Bernard vW.Cr. to his ancestors estate “Nieuw-Rande” at Olst (please, see also “Het spoor terug”, as Bernard contributed the genealogy part to this paper), near Deventer. Afterwards I delivered Bernard to his hotel where he stayed before he left for Germany. Meanwhile, the Cr. reunion team cleaned up all the tracks of the reunion at “’t Flierse estate”. They really did a great job as Ineke later reported to me.

Walter Crommelin (Groningen) and Reinhard Crommelin (Deventer), Coen Sandberg (Den Haag), Walter Crommelin (Haarlem).

The upcoming generation, here seen at the start of the treasure hunt.

Elske Crommelin-Van Dijken (Deventer), Jan and Gisela Crommelin (Hamburg/Australië).


Some personal muses

Looking back, I like to muse about the Crommelin family day 2013 in sharing some personal thoughts with you: - The location: perfect because of the accessibility, parking, the diversity of scenery and child-friendly potentials. These aspects may be relevant in future planning as there were more kids did participate than ever before as I can remember. - The participants: 9 children (aged between 2 and 16 years); 4 boys and 5 girls amongst them one teenager guest from Australia (roommate of Christine Scott-Smith-Cr.) 35 adults: 17 ladies and 18 gents (aged 17-96) - Coming from: The Netherlands: southwest 3, east: 10, central & western: 18 and northern region: 9; abroad: Germany 1 and Australia 3 participants. - Participants fee: € 25,- p.p.

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Totie Deketh-Crommelin (Laren (Gld))

Some personal suggestions

* Choose a fixed date, e.g. last Sunday in June or First Sunday in September; much easier for the agendas of all of us and for our future global communication. About 10 foreign family members I know of were planning to participate in the reunion, but had to change their planning due to the last minute date switch. This might also be relevant to other programs, annual (alternating?) senior and kids programs * An agenda of all activities on the back flap of each coming Crommelin Journal * Next to that, more short memo’s from the chairman in the opening speech on the reunion day itself, regarding foundation capital, website, social media like face-book, administrative matters, like contribution rules, foreign contacts, visits, addresses, books, questions, etc. And especially a warmer attention to all family members and relatives here and abroad who work hard, in silence, behind the scenes for the Crommelin Foundation. * A call to all family members to contact the Crommelin secretary, when there are any changes in address, family matters, etc. * Contribution fee: children under 16 years free; introduction of interested guests. I do feel that, only in that way we can keep the Crommelin family heritage alive and meanwhile binding the warm connections between all of us. Last but not least, I like to end by expressing my sincere gratitude to all who made the Crommelin family day 2013 into a success for all participants and of course also to those helping me in making this report. With warmest regards,

Mariad Crommelin E-mail: [email protected]


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Interview Chairman Since September 2013 Michiel has taken over the Chairmanship of the Crommelin Foundation from Robert Crommelin (Naarden, The Netherlands). So a good reason to interview him and to find out who he is and what his plans for the Crommelin Foundation are. This interview took place on December 29, 2013 at the home of Gulian Crommelin, his uncle and brother of his father Mariad. Michiel was born February 16, 1976 in Eindhoven, a big industrial town in the south of The Netherlands. He is the eldest son of Mariad and Elske Crommelin - van Dijken. He went to the primary school “de Tweelingen”, in the period 1982 - 1988. The following six years he followed the Grammar school “Lorentz Casimir”. The next step was the School for Higher Vocational Education in Rijswijk, a town close to The Hague. He started in 2002, January 01, at STORK Technical Services as construction engineer. He worked (among many other projects) for the “Schoonebeek redevelopment project” (Schoonebeek is a village in the north-east of The Netherlands), which means that a steam plant was constructed, to produce steam to heat the very viscous crude oil for easier mining. Nowadays he is project manager with the same company.His hobbies are: golfing, tennis, fitness, snooker and playing the guitar and piano.

Michiel en Ellen under an umbrella, Gent 2012

He lives with his girlfriend Ellen in Utrecht, a town in the heart of The Netherlands. Ellen was born in Amsterdam and studied Human Resource Management in Higher Vocational Education in Amsterdam. She now works as Career Counseler for the youth at the “Windroos” (translated as “Compass rose”) foundation, which is trying to help youth with psychiatric problems to re-enter society, through study or job. Her hobbies are: music and movies as well as fitness and reading. The hobby of both is “travelling”, preferably “flydrive” holidays.

Michiel and Ellen in Monument Valley, Navajo Tribal Park, Utah, USA

As new chairman you will wonder what his intentions are for the Crommelin Foundation.

Photo of Schoonebeek project. This photo is just the Central Treatment Facility, excluding the transport pipelines (to Lingen, Germany, as well as 14 “wellsites” where the crude oil is actually mined.

1. The new chairman intends to each year send you Christmas greetings by e-mail, which will inform you as well about important activities planned for the coming year. This agenda will list the dates and places (if applicable) of the family walk, the golf tournament, the lunch for the “65 plus” generation, the closing dates for the input for the Crommelin Journal and inform you about a reunion (if applicable).


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2. The Crommelin Journal will be issued twice a year, pre-dominantly in English (but still some Dutch). In his opinion in the Crommelin Journal you should read more articles from the non-Dutch members of the family and more inputs from the younger members, for example what kind of work they do, where they live, what studies they follow, what hobbies they have, etc. Stories from the past are important, but reports from the younger members will give us a picture of their intentions and views on the future. 3. As chairman he will take the initiative to make available for the members of the Crommelin Foundation the names, cities and countries of

Crommelin members around the world, in order to create a network for visits during holidays, social contact and maybe even internships. Last year, he was in California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada, and would have loved to visit family members there. The fact that he had no idea who lived there and how to contact them is something he would like to prevent for other travelling family members. More international contact between family members is a matter of foreign family members meeting each other, and in his vision holidays are a perfect method to obtain this. Michiel wishes all members of the Crommelin family all the best for 2014.


Tales by Jaap

Chapter 1: Why did Jaap and Laurine Crommelin-van Nieuwkerken go to Indie1

This will be the first of a series of short stories2 from the book with this title. The book was compiled in 2009, 2010 and 2011 by their eldest son Gulian and written for his brothers and sisters, Mariad, Elselous, Daan, Désirée, Duco and Otteline. And two family members of that generation, who still live, Aunt Agnes and Uncle Henk. Gulian, Mariad and Else-lous went with them and Daan was born in Semarang, Mid-Java in 1948. The book covers mainly the period from their marriage in 1939 to their return to the Netherlands in 1949, extended with a brief report on the period up to 1961 when I left home and went into the Royal Netherlands Navy. Above a good picture of my parents at that time.

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Many thanks go to Aunt Agnes, a sister of Jaap. She has a good memory and was able to assist in clearing up many things. Also Uncle Henk helped where ever he could. He is a nephew of Laurine. They both were very close to my parents. Most of the photos are from an album I got from my Mother on the day Trix de Jonge and I married. Ma has been a very prolific photographer.

Reading the chapters you will see that Pa was not very happy in his job he got before the war.. He wanted a job with independence and able to take his own responsibilities. In the headquarters of the National Telephone Company there was little to no change for such. After the period in Indië we see him return to The Hague and the office in the Head Quarters of the Telephone Company. But he has tasted responsibilities, being own boss, a respected manager and dealing with challenges without bureaucracy. He is not happy at all. From that time there are stories about overstraining and depressions. Amsterdam was the first step on the road to greater independency. After that more responsibility in Groningen. But Arnhem gave him what he wanted. He was one of the important man of an important town. A Regent.

Their stay in Indië has been important to them, many friendships were made and were cherished for the rest of their lives. In his work Pa did not suffer from many superiors, bureaucracy, etc. He wanted a manager job as far as possible from The camera of Ma, which I still have. head office. His job in Indië was director of the My parents Jaap and Laurine Crommelin-Van telephone district mid-Java, based in Semarang. Nieukerken (mostly called Pa and Ma in the He was his own boss and he liked it! stories), left many boxes full of photo’s, letters sent to their families and friends home and reports This series is divided into 10 chapters. on how their way of living was, what their thoughts of what they saw and felt about the political and Chapter 1 – Introduction military struggle, which was going on in Indië, at Chapter 2 – World War II the time. Some reports are very unique, such as a Chapter 3 – World War II, the Hunger winter report on the voyage Pa made by aircraft in 1945 Chapter 4 – The big step is taken from Amsterdam (Schiphol3) to Batavia4, a good Chapter 5 – Pa travels by aircraft to Indië condition is a problem in the tropics. Uncle Henk, Chapter 6 – Ma and children travel by MS solved that problem by sending Ma new Oranje to Indië cartridges of 8 photos each, packed in empty air Chapter 7 – Semarang, the family tide solder cigarette tins to keep the humidity out Chapter 8 – Semarang, military & business of this sensitive material. Chapter 9 – The family returns to The Netherlands by MS. Sibajak Chapter 10 – After Indië 1 Indië was a colony of the Netherlands in the Far East. It became independency in 1949 and is called Indonesia nowadays. 2 Many of the letters are in the Dutch Language and so will not be published in these stories. 3 Schiphol is the national and famous airfield, close to Amsterdam. 4 Batavia is called Jakarta nowadays.


Chapter 2: Pa and Ma during World War 2 The Hague 1939 - 1944

Pa and Ma married on January 24, 1939. Pa had graduated as Engineer Electro Engineering at Delft University of Technologies and, and this was very important in those days, had found a job. Before World War 2 there was a lot of unemployment in the Europe. Many highly educated people worked as garbage collector or as tram driver, etc. But Pa got a proper job with the National Telephone Company. His annual income was 2394,- guilders, which nowadays is about 1088,- Euro or 1469,USD. They were very glad to find a rented house

in the Fuchsiastraat in The Hague. Aunt Agnes told us that the house was very small and became definitely overcrowded during the war, when two sons were born, Gulian in 1941 and Mariad in 1942. And at the end of the war Else-Lous was born in April 1945. During the war there was a shortage of shoes, so I used wooden shoes and I still do during work in the garden, in the woods and so on. I still have a pair of wooden shoes I used during this period.

A few photos of me Left - as baby in the living room. Mid - reading a book Right - eating

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Four generations, which was very rare in those days. From left to right: Jaap Crommelin, Gulian, his eldest son, Great Grandfather Sickinghe, the father of Grandfather Aubin’s wife and to the right Grandfather Aubin, Jaap’s father

An identification medal and some lining of the cradle my parents used.

Gulian with Grandfather Aubin and Grandmother Loukie in Zeist, January, 1942.


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In 1942 my parents went up to Gorssel, to introduce me to two people my parents liked very much, Uncle Marie and Aunt Greet van Nieukerken. They were brother and sister and lived in a beautiful house (Huis te Werken) in Joppe, a small village near Gorssel, where Trix and I live today. His full name was Marie Adrianus. My brother was named after him. At first he was called Marie Adrianus, but during the period in Indië, Ma wrote in her letters about Marie Ad., which became Mariad. After the stay in Indië we went many times to Huis te Werken during our holidays. It means in English “House to work”, because Uncle Marie was an architect and worked mostly at home. This meant that we had to work in the woods, cutting trees, splitting wood for the open fires, planting trees, keeping the footpaths tidy, etc. in the morning, but played our own games in the woods in the afternoon. It is remarkable that in 1972 my father- and motherin-law bought a part of the woods, which had belonged to Huis te Werken (which had been sold at that time) and built a house there. Trix and I and our children went often to this house and the wood, the garden and the swimming pool. Nearly every vacation. When my father-in-law died, Trix and I moved into the house, to take care of my mother-in-law. When she had died as well, we lived for five years in the house and in 2009 we moved to the house we live in today. From discussions with Aunt Agnes I understand that Pa and Ma did not have a lot of worries during the first four years of the war. The German occupier kept Pa in function, but put an extra superior over him. So there was a salary which meant food and shelter. Until the winter of 19441945, when especially the western part of the Netherland suffered from an enormous shortage of food. This shortage was due to a strike of the railway company, ordered by the Dutch government in London, the growing shortage of coal, the shortage of trucks and other vehicles, which had been taken by the Germans and a severe winter with frozen canals, so even ships were unable to bring food and fuel. It is remarkable that

according to Aunt Agnes, my Grandfather Aubin and she heard about the birth of Else-Lous from a German telephone employee. So Pa had some connections with the German telephone people who respected him and used their own lines to send a message to his father and mother in Zeist. I remember very little of the war. I remember that I was sitting in a drum of steel and suddenly a white arm pulled me up and put me next to it. I was frightened. I think that it was one of the cooks of the central kitchen organization. As children we were allowed to clean out these big cooking pans.

During the war Princess Margriet was born in Canada, where her Mother lived. In 1940 the Dutch Government was evacuated from the Netherlands to London (United Kingdom) and the decision was taken to send the crown Princes and her children to Canada. This tile was made to honour the birth of Princes Margriet (the third daughter of the later Queen Juliana and her husband Prince Bernhard). Gulian Crommelin

An example of an Ausweis Pa had to keep on working as employee of the National Telephone Company, controlled by the Germans of course.


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Crommelaria At the start of the new year a short look back at the previous year, 2013. During the 2013 a lot of effort was put into giving the Crommelin Journal a continuous character. Shortly after the publication of the winter 2013 edition work already started on the spring 2014 edition. The foundation board wishes to thank all participants in the journal for their continued enthusiastic contributions and hard work! (As an aside, in principle we send the journal electronically but if you do not have a computer you can request a paper version with May Crommelin.) The past year saw an increase in activity on the Crommelin Family Facebook page and a growth to 45 members from 4 continents. Not bad ,but still room for improvement! If you receive the Crommelin Journal but are not yet a member of the group then send a request to join so that we can include you. It’s a great and easy way to get in touch with far flung family members! A highlight of the past year was the family reunion which saw many new and old faces meeting getting together for soup, snacks and activities on a wonderful sunny day in September. A longer article on the reunion is featured elsewhere in this journal

In order to support the various activities that the Crommelin Foundation organizes, we are dependent on the support of our family members. For the coming year the contribution has been lowered to €25, for families and €15 for singles. A separate e-mail with details how to donate will be sent in May of this year. Some family members have again given generously in the past year and we want to thank them especially. As regular donator to the foundation you will receive the digtal Journal and be kept up to date and be invited for the various family activities. You will also receive a discount on the various activities that are organized. If you wish to donate to the Crommelin Foundation, please send an e-mail to May, via [email protected]. We very much appreciate your support. So, if you happen to be reading this and want to support the foundation or if you know family members who would be interested in learning more about the Crommelins and want to receive the Journal, don’t hesitate to get in touch via e-mail, the website Crommelin.org or our Facebook group. We look forward to hearing from you. Warmest regards, Board of the Crommelin Foundation Michiel Crommelin May van Oordt Dies Donker Walter Crommelin

By Otteline webshop Otteline Crommelin heeft dit jaar een webshop geopend. De naam is www.by-otteline.nl en je vindt kettingen, armbanden, oorbellen, sjaals, windlichtjes, kaarten enzovoorts, alles gemaakt door Otteline. Ze zegt dat kralen rijgen altijd al haar hobby was. In de laatste jaren is dit uitgegroeid en kwamen steeds meer verschillende toepassingen en producten erbij. In het volgend nummer van het CJ wordt interview met Otteline geplaatst.


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Crommelin in business KokoToko in Groningen, a happy new store by Amber

On a bright Monday afternoon in December my youngest daughter Felicia and I enter the shop of Amber Crommelin, KokoToko. The shop is located in the city center of Groningen and was opened just recently, on the 19th of October 2013. Young business woman Amber gives us a warm welcome while she is busy behind the counter with a client. This gives us the opportunity to have a closer look at her shop. While browsing we discover fair-trade chocolate, T-shirts made of ecological cotton, mousepads from recycled material, handmade jewelry and many more products. The interior of the store itself is decorated in a very stylish and hip way, with bright wood and modern architecture. After Amber has finished her work we take a seat at a large wooden table in the shop and are served tea and cookies. This table is a very important part of Amber`s concept of `happy living room`, as I soon learn, because Amber does not only sell healthy food and fairtrade articles but has also started to offer workshops. Example workshops are making `healthy smoothies` or creative jewelry. In the future she wants to expand the range of products she offers to include `healthy food to go`. When asked about her drive to become a business women Amber answers very enthusiastically. She tells me that when she was a child she already knew that she wanted to run her `own` shop and to be responsible for a business. A 4-year bachelor degree in commercial economics and lots of internships helped her to make her dream come closer but the final idea, her business concept, was born in the car, after a long day in May 2012. She was hungry and wanted to eat something quick but also healthy. (Un)-fortunately nobody offered healthy meals `to go` in Groningen so Amber decided she wanted to jump fill this gap. She looked for and found a suitable location for her shop and in order to fill in the time waiting for the license to sell food, started selling products `that make everybody better but nobody worse`, as she proudly explains. In Ambers view producers, traders, the environment and the consumers should benefit throughout

the commercial chain of a product. On her search of products to sell she first looks close to home in Groningen and the region if she can find interesting things she could offer, just to keep the transportation limited. Only if she cannot find anything of interest does she extend her range and further away, always keeping in mind that the product chain is `honest`, fairtrade and sustainable. From 2015 she will finally be allowed to offer healthy to go meals, because the city of Groningen will allow all shops to sell cooked food from January 2015 onwards. And asked about her dreams for the future Ambers says with a big smile that she wants to make her shop KokoToko the first shop of many, a concept store for a lot of other stores who want to follow her idea of healthy, honest and hip products. And of course this will not be limited to the Netherlands!

At the end of this inspiring afternoon Felicia is allowed to draw something on the shops blackboard. Here everybody who comes to the shop is invited to write something positive and get a 20% discount. I am sure that many Crommelins will find their way to the beautiful city of Groningen and Amber`s shop KokoToko! Nina Crommelin, november 2013


Website Spotlights

Hereby we present you the fourth episode of “Website Spotlights”, a selection of articles which can be found on our family website www.crommelin.org. With every short preface of an article there is a link to read the full article. These articles are presented in english so a broad variety of family members can read these great stories. Vancouver/Genève, 2014 Miff Crommelin & Govert Deketh

“There are many interesting stories to be found on the Crommelin Family website. We don’t have to read fictional novels or watch television to find adventure! Our ancestors left us an interesting heritage. They also beckon us to do our best so that the world might become a better place because of our faith, hopes, dreams, and accomplishments”

Long Ago and Far Away 12

An unexpected visit from an old friend now living in Kent, England recently caused Miff to reflect on the period 1682-1692 when our very-great-grandfather, Daniel Crommelin, lived at Greenway Court, Kent near Leeds Castle. This was the time when both Greenway Court and Leeds Castle were owned by the Culpeper family, shortly before they came into the possession of the Fairfax family through the marriage of Catherine Culpeper to Thomas Fairfax. Tourists today will still find the name of ‘Culpeper’ and ‘Fairfax’ attached to various gardens and attractions at lovely Leeds Castle - “the prettiest castle in England”! Click here to read the full article

A Christmas Carol Although Christmas is already behind us, this classic tale is timeless and always worth sharing. In the early part of Queen Victoria’s reign, Christmas as we now know it became fashionable. The year 1843 saw the publication of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and also the first commercially available Christmas card. Charles Dickens was 31 years old and in dire financial straits when A Christmas Carol in Prose was first published. The lavish first edition, complete with colour plates, was an immediate success but the high cost of production did little to help resolve his financial difficulties. Click here to read the full article


A Visit In A Dutch Country House by May Crommelin (1849 – 1930)

Maria Henrietta de la Cherois Crommelin, known as May Crommelin, was a novelist and travel writer born in Ulster, Ireland at Carrowdore Castle in County Down. While growing up, she and her family often lived elsewhere because of the political situation at home, and May Crommelin was educated by governesses. The family moved to England in the 1880s and after the death of her traditionalist father in 1885 she lived independently in her own flat in London. Though her family were “French gentry”, descended from the Huguenot linen merchant Louis Crommelin, they were not at all wealthy, and Crommelin earned a living by writing. One of her cousins was the astronomer Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin. She travelled widely, going to the Andes, the West Indies, North Africa and elsewhere. She wrote 42 novels which were often based upon her travels. Her first book “Queenie” was published in 1874. “Orange Lily” of 1879 is set in Ulster, where she was born. The following essay of about 15 pages give a wonderful description of living conditions in The Netherlands in the late-1800’s. Click here to read the full article

J.H. Scheffer - Crommelin Genealogy Archive (published 1878) 13

Généalogie du nom, maison, et famille des Crommelin, écrite en Hollande, par le réfugié septuagénaire Jacob Crommelin en 1712 J.H. Scheffer was the university librarian in Rotterdam who published a Crommelin family archive based on Jacob Crommelin’s genealogical data. In the following pages the entire Scheffer booklet was scanned and is made available to family members. Click here to read the full article


Erfstukken vertellen Over een geheime lade, verlovingsring en inktsporen op een reis-schrijfdoos

Clara Wilhelmina Crommelin-Wilkens

Na de dood van mijn grootvader Aubin Unico Crommelin (1880-1965) werd het voor velen dierbare huis aan de Laan van Beek en Royen ontruimd. Uit de inboedel ervan erfde mijn vader Jacob Willem Hendrik Crommelin (1912-1989) de reis-schrijfnecessaire van zijn grootmoeder Clara Crommelin-Wilkens. Vele jaren later beschreef een taxateur van Sotheby deze schrijfnecessaire als “een mahoniehouten notarisschrijfkistje”, wel met een mondelinge aantekening “maar wel één in de vorm van een elegante en luxe schrijfnecessaire voor een dame van stand op reis”. Deze schrijfdoos van mijn overgrootmoeder is 17 cm hoog, 25 cm breed en 45 cm lang, was - en is voor mij nog altijd - een avontuur.

14 Mijn overgrootmoeder Clara Wilhelmina Wilkens (1847-1919) trouwde op 4 juni 1875 mijn overgrootvader Jacob Willem Hendrik Crommelin (1844-1919) en kreeg met hem vijf zonen waaronder mijn grootvader Aubin Unico. Tot 1909 woonde de familie in Amsterdam op de Weteringschans 20F, daarna verhuisden mijn overgrootouders naar het landgoed de Reehorst, waarop zij hun nieuwe zomerverblijf in 1900 hadden laten bouwen. Beiden stierven in 1919 op hun geliefde Reehorst.

Schrijfnecessaire

Terwijl ik, haar achterkleindochter nu in de Amsterdamse Jordaan zit te mijmeren bij de schrijfdoos om het een en ander erover aan leden van de familie Crommelin te vertellen, herinner ik me als de dag van gisteren hoe ik samen met mijn ouders in 1965 de schrijfnecessaire verkende. Ik was veertien en kende het verschijnsel schrijfnecessaire niet noch kwam het woord in mijn vocabulaire voor. Dat moment samen met mijn ouders: het was alsof ik het leven van mijn overgrootmoeder binnenstapte, want alles wees

erop dat zij deze schrijfnecessaire veelvuldig had gebruikt. Bij het openslaan van de schrijfdoos vormen de twee helften een lessenaar met vakjes links en rechts, een prachtig weggewerkt vak voor briefpapier, postzegels, een pennenbakje met het staafje rode lak, het lakstempeltje met de sierlijke C, een gebroken griffel en een koperen spijker. Daarnaast staat precies in het gelid in een houten vakje gevat haar prachtige zandstrooier met gouden dop, in een andere vakje met een dekseltje met ivoren handvat een muntenklem, een parfumflesje, een gouden vingerhoedje en een gouden ring met turkooizen. Een ware ontdekkingsreis.

Een geheime lade

De schrijfdoos van overgrootmoeder Clara blijft me door de jaren heen verrassen. Jaren later, toen de schijfdoos meeverhuisd was naar Amsterdam naar mijn studentenkamer, vroeg een vriend die op de veiling van Mak van Waaij werkte, waar de geheime lade zat? Geheime lade? Ik wist van niets! Hij des te meer en ging op zoek. Inderdaad had er al die jaren een grote koperen spijker in de pennenbak gelegen. Waar die van was of waarvoor die diende? Ik had geen idee. Maar zo bleek, die was de ‘sleutel’ tot de geheime laadjes en de pennenbak wees ons verder de weg en gaf uitsluitsel. Voor een niets vermoedend oog bleek daar een schuivend paneeltje te zitten. Alles heel verfijnd weggewerkt. Onder die schuif zat een gaatje en daar paste de koperen spijker in. Ponggg… en jawel hoor, daar sprong met een prachtige veer een plankje open en achter dàt houten wandje zaten de twee geheime laadjes. Prachtig vernuft vakwerk van laadjes met ivoren knopjes, volledig onzichtbaar weggewerkt. Voor de opmerkzame lezer: De laadjes waren leeg!

Rechter vleugel, nieuwbouw staat ongeveer op de plaats van het paleis


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Inktsporen van haar handschrift

De attributen die ik in 1965 vond zijn alledaagse dingen uit het leven van een vrouw als van Clara Wilkens in tweede helft van de negentiende eeuw: een restje lak, een stempel waar de laksporen nog in zitten, een vingerhoedje of parfumflesje. Maar wat me het meest trof en nog steeds ontroert, zijn de inktresten op één van de koperen scharnieren. Daarop zie je enkele woorden schots en scheef en door elkaar in spiegelbeeld in haar verfijnde handschrift. Met een vergrootglas heb ik geprobeerd iets te ontcijferen van wat er stond. Dat is niet te doen: de woorden of fragmenten

Ring met turkoois

De gouden ring, die ik als veertienjarige vond tijdens mijn eerste verkenning van de schrijfdoos, is heel fijntjes met turkoois ingelegd en heeft aan de binnenkant de datum 4 juni 1874 gegraveerd. Dit is precies een jaar voordat mijn overgrootouders op 4 juni 1875, volgens het blauwe boekje, in Amsterdam trouwden. Turkoois in gouden sieraden verwerkt is typerend voor de stijl van deze Victoriaanse periode als blijk van vriendschap, genegenheid en liefde. Het zou hier wellicht kunnen gaan om de vriendschaps- of verlovingsring van Clara Wilkens, zo heb ik uit de

ervan lijken in het Frans, maar zeker weet ik het niet. Reconstruerend zijn dit wellicht de afdrukken van niet goed met de zandstrooier gedroogde tekst, omdat het papier te snel werd opgedraaid om verder te schrijven aan de brief. Tot zo ver mijn onbescheiden rechercheren in het leven van mijn overgrootmoeder. Elke keer dat mijn oog - een vrouw anno nu - erop valt, op dat tastbare van die inktsporen van het handschrift van een negentiende-eeuwse vrouw, mijn overgrootmoeder, ontroeren deze sporen uit het verleden me.

reconstructie toentertijd van mijn vader begrepen. Mijn ouders hebben de ring voor me laten restaureren, waarbij helaas het oorspronkelijk enigszins verloren is gegaan. Met de ring die ik graag draag en haar schrijfnecessaire als pronkstuk in mijn huis, is Clara CrommelinWilkens weer terug in Amsterdam. Wat ze van deze plek op twee hoog in de Jordaan vindt, blijft gissen. Désirée Crommelin Amsterdam oktober 2013


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Het spoor terug

Kort geleden ontvingen wij van Lamberthe de Jong (historisch onderzoeker te Diepenveen), de foto hieronder van een gevelsteen. Het opschrift luidt:

E.C.S. Baronesse Stratenus, geb. Van Wickevoort Crommelin. Juni 1898 De steen is ingemetseld is in een woning aan de Schapenzandweg 7 op het landgoed Nieuw-Rande te Diepenveen. Het betreft hier Emmerika Catharina Sebilla van Wickevoort Crommelin (Haarlem 11 maart 1859 -Diepenveen 3 januari 1939). Zij was een dochter van Edouard van Wickevoort Crommelin (18331891), majoor der cavalerie, en Marie Céline Cornelie Henriette Storm de Grave (1836-1922). Op 19 juli 1883 trouwde zij in Den Haag met Guillaume Jean Théodore baron Stratenus (Hannover 1 maart 1858 – Diepenveen 1 januari 1939). Hij was een zoon van Anthony Jan Lucas baron Stratenus en Susette Otheline Constance baronesse van der Duyn.

Huize Nieuw-Rande

Huize Nieuw-Rande op het landgoed NieuwRande aan de IJsseldijk tussen Deventer en Olst. De naam Rande was al bekend in 1285. In de 16e eeuw waren er twee huizen Rande: de havezate Rande (nu Oud-Rande) en huize Smets Rande. In 1853 werd landgoed Smets Rande aangekocht door mr. A.J. Duymaer van Twist (1809-1887), oud gouverneur-generaal van Nederlands-Indië. Hij liet Smets Rand afbreken en bouwde in 1856 een buitenhuis met Indische allure: Nieuw-Rande. Het park werd aangelegd door de tuinarchitecten vader en zoon Zocher. Na het overlijden van mevrouw Duymaer van Twist werd het huis in 1895 aangekocht door bovengenoemde Guillaume, baron Stratenus. In juni 1889 werd het zondagsschooltje gebouwd er in opdracht van de Emmerika. Vanaf 1914 is het een woonhuis. In 1909 liet Guillaume een paardenstal, een ketelhuis en vier gastenkamers aanbouwen.

Het echtpaar had drie kinderen, die in Den Haag werden geboren. Otheline Suzette Marguerite (1884-1922), Edouard Antoine (1885-1979) en Théodore Guillaume Jean (1886-1965). In 1887 is er in Den Haag een foto gemaakt van vier generaties: Emmerika met haar dochtertje Otheline, moeder Maria en grootmoeder Celine. Otheline, die ook wel Daisy werd genoemd, had een verstandelijk beperking. Haar vader liet in 1906 voor haar een houten villa met veranda bouwen op het landgoed. In deze villa woonden ook haar (Zwitserse) gouvernantes. De villa is later verplaatst naar de rand van Deventer en staat er nog steeds. De jongste zoon Theo vestigde zich later op het buiten Broekhuizen in Leersum.

Vier generaties (foto rond 1887) Emmerika C.S. Stratenus – van Wickevoort Crommelin (1859-1939), haar dochtertje Otheline S.M. Stratenus (18841922), haar grootmoeder Celine Pauline Isaure Storm de Grave – van Beugen (1816 - 1907) en haar moeder Maria C.C.H. van Wickevoort Crommelin - Storm de Grave (18361922). (Archief fam. De Graaf te Bilthoven, nu in het bezit van Willem Janssen te Diepenveen)


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Na de dood van baron en baronesse Stratenus, twee dagen na elkaar in 1939 op Huize NieuwRande bleef hun oudste zoon Edouard daar wonen. Hij trouwde in 1963 met zijn verpleegster Hillegonda Vis. In 1979 legateerde hij zijn landgoed aan de Verenigde Gestichten (nu Stichting IJssellandschap) in Deventer, maar na zijn dood kocht zijn weduwe het huis terug. In 1996 overleed zij en werd volgens haar testament Huize NieuwRande ook eigendom van de Stichting IJssellandschap. In 1998 onderging het huis een grondige renovatie en werd het een hotel en brasserie. Het bos op het landgoed wordt in het dorp Diepenveen nog altijd het ‘bos van Stratenus’ genoemd. Op dit moment wordt het park zoveel mogelijk teruggebracht naar het ontwerp van de Rochers.

Huize Nieuw-Rande toen de familie Stratenus – Wickevoort Crommelin hier woonde, vermoedelijk rond 1887. Geheel links staat de baron met dochtertje Daisy, bij de deur baronesse Emmerika en rechts de zoons Theo en Edouard. (Foto Historische Vereniging Diepenveen)

Met dank aan Lamberthe de Jong, Diepenveen Désirée Crommelin, Amsterdam Mariad Crommelin, Deventer

Deze houten villa werd op landgoed Nieuw-Rande gebouwd voor dochter Otheline (1884-1922), ook wel Daisy genoemd. Zij werd hier verzorgd door twee Zwitserse gouvernantes, de dames Jaquard en Perrier. Het huis stond aan de overkant van een vijver vlakbij het grote huis. Het staat nu aan de rand van Deventer en Diepenveen. (Foto Historische Vereniging Diepenveen)

Bronnen: http://www.kasteleninoverijssel.nl/pages/nieuwrande.htm www.historischeverenigingdiepenveen.nl/collectie www.ijssellandschap.nl, zie Keizersrande en landgoed Nieuw-Rande Privé-archief Willem Janssen te Diepenveen


En Famille Familieberichten: overlijdensbericht, geboorteaankondiging, bruiloften en partijen, promotie, eindexamen, excursie, golfdag, ouderenlunch, jonge gezinnendag, in memoriam, afstuderen, verhuizing, huizenruil (inclusief verzorging huisdieren), rondleiding door de stad van herkomst, ruilen van familieprullaria etc.

PERSBERICHT Dochter voor Prins Carlos en Prinses Annemarie Hunne Koninklijke Hoogheden Prins Carlos en Prinses Annemarie de Bourbon de Parme geven met grote blijdschap en dankbaarheid kennis van de geboorte van hun dochter Cecilia Maria Johanna Beatrix. Het meisje is op 17 oktober geboren om 14.07 uur in het Bronovo Ziekenhuis in Den Haag. Bij haar geboorte woog ze 1500 gram.

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Mede dankzij de grote betrokkenheid en de uitstekende zorgen van gynaecoloog dr. Kim Boers en van de andere medewerkers van het ziekenhuis, is de geboorte voorspoedig verlopen. Moeder en dochter maken het allebei goed, maar moeten uit voorzorg nog enige tijd in het ziekenhuis blijven. Het is het tweede kind van Prins Carlos en Prinses Annemarie. Op 9 mei 2012 werd hun dochter Luisa Irene ook in het Bronovo Ziekenhuis geboren. De naam Cecilia komt zowel in de familie van Prins Carlos als die van Prinses Annemarie voor. Prinses Cecilia is vernoemd naar haar oudtante Prinses Beatrix en naar haar grootvader Hans Gualthérie van Weezel. Dit persbericht kreeg het CJ door prinses Annemarie persoonlijk toegestuurd. Het CJ heeft ook de eer om als een van de eerste `kranten` te mogen vermelden dat prinses Cecilia in Piacenza (Italië) gedoopt zal worden. Prins Carlos en prinses Annemarie zijn Hertog en Hertogin van Parma en Piacenza. Zus Luisa werd in 2012 in Parma gedoopt. Ook is prinses Annemarie blij met het Crommelin-rompertje voor Cecilia. In de zomereditie van het CJ zal een interview met de prinses verschijnen. Prinses Annemarie is de dochter van Johan (Hans) Stephan Leonard Gualthérie van Weezel en kleindochter van Constance Eveline Crommelin.

Input voor deze rubriek? Meld het ons, eventueel met foto’s, op [email protected] Kijk voor actueel familie nieuws ook eens op de Crommelinpagina op Facebook

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